Renato Fiacchini was born in Rome in the Via di Ripetta, next to the Via del Corso.
He quit his studies early to devote himself to his true passion, playing music and singing - though initially with little success. He replied to the criticisms (including the recurring insult Sei uno zero! - "You're a zero!") by assuming the alter-ego of Renato Zero. After several different jobs, including an appearance in an advertisement for ice-cream, he recorded his first singles in 1965: "Tu, sì", "Il deserto", "La solitudine", which were never issued. His first published single, "Non basta sai/In mezzo ai guai" (1967), sold a total of 20 copies.
In the late 1960s Zero's career was favoured by the glam-rock fashion, which he had somehow presaged with his sexual ambiguity and androgynous appearance. At the same time, this led him to be accused of cloning characters like David Bowie. In 1973 he issued his first LP, No! Mamma, no! (live), but with little success. The follow-up Invenzioni met the same fate.
Birth of the "Zerophilia"
It was not until 1976 that he scored his first hit with the single "Madame". "Madame" and the album including it, Trapezio, established a regular and loyal audience for Zero. This was to increase exponentially in the following years, until he could boast a huge following of die-hard fans that he dubbed "Sorcini" ("Little Mice").
The late 1970s were indeed years of great success for Zero's character, with the LPs Zerofobia ("Zerophobia", 1977), Zerolandia (1978) and Erozero (1979) topping the Italian charts. At this time Renato Zero was amongst the two or three most popular singers in Italy and his song "Il Carrozzone" was already regarded, also by critics, as one of the best Italian songs ever.
In 1979 Zero played himself in the movie "Ciao Nì" (his usual greeting to his fans, which can be roughly translated as "Hi pal!"). In Italy this film was to be more successful than the blockbuster "Superman".
The 1980s
In the 1980s he began to abandon make-up and greasepaint, but this did not rid Zero of his mania for grandeur: in the 1980 tour, for example, he entered the scene riding a white horse. In 1982 he began a collaboration with the opera director Renato Serio, who was to write the string arrangements for almost all of Zero's following LPs. In late 1983 he took part in RAI's Fantastico 3, then the most popular Italian TV show.
His career continued to be successful until 1984, with top-charts songs like "Amico" ("Friend") and "Spiagge" ("Beaches"). That year, however, his album Leoni si nasce and the tour of the same name, in which he appeared disguised as a lion and escorted by four aborigines, were commercial failures. The album Zero of 1987 marked the low point of his career: instead of playing in arenas and stadiums, Zero had to sing almost for free in the piazzas and discos of Italy's minor cities.
1990s and 2000s: the Comeback
In 1991 Renato Zero participated to the Sanremo Music Festival with "Spalle al muro", and from that moment on his career began to rise again. In 1993 he was nr.1 in the Italian charts with the LP Quando non sei più nessuno. The following year Imperfetto repeated this success. During his tour concerts would regularly sell out, and he returned to his famous dress changes during the spectacles, although in a less kitsch and more balanced style.
In 2004 his tour "Cattura il sogno/Il sogno continua" (Catch the dream/The dream continues) was awarded from Pollstar magazine as the most successful of the year in Italy and as well as one of the most successful worldwide (#30). The recording af the Roman concerts, held at Olimpico Stadium in June, was the best selled musical DVD of 2004. In 2005 he took part to the Italian stage of Live 8, in the Circo Massimo. In November his new album Il dono ("The Gift") topped the charts and maintained #1 until the end of the year. In December 2005 he performed in the Vatican with a song dedicated to Pope John Paul II. Renato Zero's most recent tour started in February 2006 and is entitled Zero movimento. During some concerts held at the time of the campaign for the April 2006 elections he declared himself against former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Che ti do
Renato Zero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In una giungla improvvisata qui
Le storie sulla pelle si disegnano
Così li riconoscerai
Tribù di solitari e di romantici
Di esuli scampati all'apatia
Si sono colorati fino all'anima
Li vedi, cercano compagnia
Pioggia, neve, vento, sole
Loro sempre là
Quell'inchiostro scorre a fiumi
Sa di libertà e già
La voce che ti do
Un segno permanente
Ti condividerò
Sarò al tuo fianco sempre
Di vivere mai stanchi
La voce che ti do
Un canto irriverente
Giustificarti no
Intollerante gente
Noi sempre troppo avanti
Un corpo parla, si esprime, urla
Ogni emozione si può tatuarla
Attraversiamo il tempo e I cambiamenti suoi
Si torna inevitabilmente li
A combattere il linguaggio degli stupidi
Gli ottusi, e la loro falsità
La voce che ti do
Non la spaventa niente
Nel tuo tatuaggio io
Ci credo ciecamente
Nel mondo siamo in tanti
La voce che ti do
Convinta più di ieri
Io I tatuaggi tuoi
Gli stessi tirerai
Medesimi colori
La voce che ti do
A te che non hai specchi
Moralista tu
Perché non ti inginocchi
Onora quei tatuaggi
E questa voce che ti do
Per non dimenticare
Involontari eroi
Piuttosto che fallire
Tatuati giù fino al cuore
Il cuore
Il cuore
Il cuore
Il cuore
In Renato Zero's song Che ti do, the singer describes a world where people who have been excluded from society for being different form a tribe to seek companionship. Through tattooing, they share their stories with each other, and the ink symbolises their freedom and independence. They are a group of outcasts who have been redeemed by the power of tattoos, which cannot be erased. The lyrics call out people who discriminate against those who are different, and their opinions are seen as irrelevant. The chorus emphasises the permanence of tattoos, and how they express emotions that cannot be hidden.
The song has several underlying meanings that reflect Renato Zero's views on society. Through the lyrics, he conveys the importance of tattoos as a form of artistic expression, and how they can be used to portray one's individuality. He also addresses discrimination towards people who are different and encourages everyone to be proud of themselves, no matter what others think.
Line by Line Meaning
Come selvaggi spuntano dai vicoli
People emerge from dark places and show their true nature.
In una giungla improvvisata qui
This is a makeshift place where people express themselves.
Le storie sulla pelle si disegnano
People tell their stories through tattoos.
Così li riconoscerai
By their tattoos, you can recognize them.
Tribù di solitari e di romantici
These are people who are lonely and idealistic.
Di esuli scampati all'apatia
These are exiles who have escaped apathy.
Si sono colorati fino all'anima
They have colored their souls with tattoos.
Li vedi, cercano compagnia
They are looking for companionship.
Pioggia, neve, vento, sole
They are always there in any weather.
Loro sempre là
They are always around.
Quell'inchiostro scorre a fiumi
Their ink flows freely.
Sa di libertà e già
It is liberating to them.
La voce che ti do
My voice that I give to you.
Un segno permanente
A permanent symbol.
Ti condividerò
I will share it with you.
Sarò al tuo fianco sempre
I will always be by your side.
Di vivere mai stanchi
To never live tired.
Un canto irriverente
An irreverent song.
Giustificarti no
I'm not here to justify you.
Intollerante gente
Intolerant people.
Noi sempre troppo avanti
We are always too far ahead.
Un corpo parla, si esprime, urla
A body speaks, expresses, and screams.
Ogni emozione si può tatuarla
Every emotion can be tattooed.
Attraversiamo il tempo e I cambiamenti suoi
We go through time and its changes.
Si torna inevitabilmente li
We inevitably return.
A combattere il linguaggio degli stupidi
To fight against the language of fools.
Gli ottusi, e la loro falsità
Against the stubborn and their falsehoods.
Non la spaventa niente
Nothing scares it.
Nel tuo tatuaggio io
I am in your tattoo.
Ci credo ciecamente
I believe blindly.
Nel mondo siamo in tanti
There are many of us in this world.
Convinta più di ieri
More convinced than yesterday.
Io I tatuaggi tuoi
Your tattoos are also mine.
Gli stessi tirerai
You will also draw the same ones.
Medesimi colori
The same colors.
A te che non hai specchi
To you who don't have mirrors.
Moralista tu
You are a moralist.
Perché non ti inginocchi
Why don't you kneel?
Onora quei tatuaggi
Honor those tattoos.
Per non dimenticare
To not forget.
Involontari eroi
Unintentional heroes.
Piuttosto che fallire
Rather than fail.
Tatuati giù fino al cuore
Tattoo yourself down to your heart.
Il cuore
The heart.
Il cuore
The heart.
Il cuore
The heart.
Il cuore
The heart.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RENATO FIACCHINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind